The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-01
The CRAZY ENGINEER.


At small station in vast rolling prairie
Of Western State, there alighted from an
| express train running east q gentleman
and his daughter, who, upon being recog-
nized by the bystanders, were ut once
| greeted by loud cheer, for IL was not
often that the popular President of the
railroad found time to visit the little town
of Rayvhle, and also confer upon it
greater honor by bringing with him his
lovely daughter Oracle, maiden Of TWEEN
| ty. The cheer caused young man 10
glance out OF window of the smoking car,
and instantly jerking in again, he hurled a
| half-consumed cigar away, and with rapid
steps sought the palace-car, and seizing
from seat he had vacated a short while
before, for quiet smoke, his goods and
chattels, he bounded errth upon the plat
form, at the immil ID risk of life and
limb, for the train had already started.
The face of the young girl grew pale at
the risk run by the young man, while her
father, the railroad President, said quickly:
| You are rash, SIR"
Without a word, but raising his hat in
reply the young man walked into the hotel
near by, and had barely time to register
the name of George Coventry, California,
upon the books, when a cry from without
caused him to again go to the door.
Far away over the prairie, the express
ton, coming on like the wind, was seen q
large and very powerful locomotive.
The dispatch enginel the dispatch en-
gine!" was the cry of the crowd, and all
eyes were turned in the direction of the
coming locomotive, while Mr.. Madison, the
President, paused as he was about to enter
n handsome carriage, and remarking quiet
ly, Oracle, dear, l must see what dis
patches this man brings" turned and
watched the approach of the great iron
messenger.
A few moments more, and the engine
stopped in front of the hotel, aud the en-
gineer, tall, massive built, smoke be-
grimed man of about fifty, sprang to the
ground, with q small black leather sachel
hung around his neck. us President Mad
ison here?" he asked, abruptly, as he
glanced around him.
"Ay, ay, my man." said the President;
and, discovering him, the engineer walked
forward and handed him the bag Of dis
patches, in reading which Mr.. Madison was
soon very deeply engaged, while the bearer
stood silently by, his fiery dark eye bent
upon the railroad king with an expression
hard to fathom.
But suddenly his gaze sought the car
riage that had been sent for Mr.. Madison,
and, falling upon the beautiful young face
of Oracle, he started quickly, his huge
form trembled, and even through the dust
and smoke that besmeared his handsome
face, he was seen TO turn almost livid,
caused by some inward emotion awakened
in him.
"Girl, you must come with me-ha! ha!
hal" he cried. wildly. And ere any one
could prevent he seized poor Oracle in his
arms, few mighty bounds and he had
reached his engine, and, with a dexterity
that was wonderful, he let on the steam,
raised the brakes, and away the huge loco
motive darted, leaving behind the two fire.
men that had accompanied the engineer,
and who had gone into the hotel for re-
freshments.
MY God! He is mad He is crazy My
daughter My poor. dear Gracie!" cried
Mr.. Madison, like every one else present,
unable to raise finger to aid the frightened
maiden.
"Ha! ha hal" came back the knocking
laugh of the big engineer, as he sped
away, leaving the crowd staring wildly after
him.
ais there no engine here?" suddenly cried
q commanding voice; and the young man
who had registered his name as George
Coventry rushed from the hotel door.
Eyes; the express changed engines here;
yonder tbs, cooling up for the next train,"
cried a railroad official.
And away the young man rushed, to
where the locomotive stood, sprang aboard,
hurled aside the engineer and fireman, who
would have prevented him, and the next
instant away he was flying over the broad
prairie, in hot pursuit of the man who had
so boldly stolen poor Oracle Madison.
Every eye at the station was strained out
over the prairie, first at the distant speck
that denoted the fugitive locomotive, and
then at the rapidly disappearing engine
driven by brave George Coventry. On,
on they flew, pursuer and pursued, the
engines groaning beneath the pressure put
upon them, and yet urged faster and faster,
for the engineer fugitive suddenly saw
that he was pursued, and recklessly did he
let on steam.
Poor Oracle, still seated where her cap
tor had placed her, but powerless to move,
watched with aching heart the every ac-
ton of the man before her, and heard
with dread his mocl1ing words:
"Ha, ha, ha, Oracle Madison, revenge
has come at last, after many years; yes,
MANY years. Ha, ha, hal"
"Oh, my God, he is mad!" cried the un-
happy girl, and then, as the shrill whistle
shrieked forth its warning notes, she
glanced ahead of her. and deserted a sta
ton near at hand-no, twas past, for, like
fash of lightning, the huge engine had
gone by and left the little hamlet far be-
hind. Station after station was thus passed,
for the telegraph had flashed along the
wires to keep the road clear, for crazy
engineer was coming, and at every place
gaping crowds stood gazing with horror at
the wild speed at which the huge engine
was urged.
A terrific roar, shrek of the whistle,
gaunt form with haggard face peering
ahead the futter of a gray dress, and the
fugitive locomotive had gone by. to be fol-
lowed the moment after by another loud
wall Of the whistle, grooming sound from
the crushing wheels, and the pursu ng
engine with the stern. pale face of George
Coventry, had also darted by at a speed
even greater than the pursued. "Oh,
heaven, have mercyP" cried the frightened
girl, and then ray of hope came into her
face as she saw the pursuing engine COM
ng rapidly on after them.
On, on it came, each moment drawing
nearer and nearer until, with o glad cry,
Oracle recognized the man who was COM
ing TO her rescue as the one who had been
her fellow traveller during the day and
had jumped so recklessly from the moving
train.
Her cry caused the crazy engineer to
glance backward, and q hooking laugh and
1 H. I 4.